Floating Car Data as Data Source for Modelling of Air ... - EnviroInfo

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the investigated area [e.g. Loibl et al., 1994]. As emissions of noise and atmospheric
pollutants from the transport sector may considerably effect the environment, frequently
the emissions from this sector constitute an input to such models. Emissions
from transport of passengers or goods are known to vary according to a number of
traffic-related parameters such as traffic flow, speed, weather situation and specific
vehicle properties (e.g. vehicle type, hub load). Currently many emission models are
based on statistical or historical data (e.g. vehicle licences per area and average driving
time, historical time series of traffic flow) so that the modelling domain is covered
in part only, which consequently leads to rather high uncertainty.
The information derived from Floating Car Data (FCD) has already been recognised
as an important source for traffic related information (mainly speed, calculation
of travel time). FCD technology has the potential to deliver near real-time data
which can be applied for traffic control measures as e.g. line management on motorways,
line control systems, generation of traffic messages for drivers and other traffic
participants [RHAPIT, 1995 and EUROSCOPE / FOCUS, 1999].
The aim of this paper is to demonstrate how existing FCD can be applied to assess
the parameters required for traffic related environmental modelling. While no results
from emission modelling are available at this stage, we can demonstrate which approaches
are ready for application. Thus the described method is a further step towards
integration of transport and environmental monitoring [see EEA, 2001].
2. Detecting Floating Car Data and Generating Traffic Information
The idea of using Floating Car Data (FCD) to collect traffic data could initiate a decisive
change in traffic monitoring. This method uses sensors integrated in vehicles
to collect data mainly of position and speed, but also additional parameters (steering
wheel angle, road slope, etc.). The metered values are sent to a traffic information
sub-center with the help of the navigation unit via satellite or via GSM- or GPRS
mobile phones.
There are three ways to locate a vehicle:
1) Satellite navigation (GPS/EGNOS/GALILEO) in combination with
GSM/GPRS/UMTS data transfer
Satellite navigation systems have already been implemented for commercial systems
of haulage companies and other vehicle fleets (e.g. taxicabs). A wider application for
the generation of traffic information has been tested in several pilot trials in European
cities [c.f. Offermann, 2001, EUROSCOPE / FOCUS, 1999], but few systems
evolved beyond the test phase [e.g. RHAPIT, 1995]. The reasons for not entering a
commercial phase were rather organisational than technical obstacles (e.g. missing
business cases or agreements in form of public-private partnerships).
29.08.02, 9202 EI P 074 I2 NowotnyB.doc
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